The Last Word

CALL MY BLUFF

Each year since 2014 (obviously not including 2020 for reasons that shan’t be mentioned here) I have attempted to enter the London Marathon. I have dutifully filled in my online form and sent in my entrance fee safe in the knowledge that with approximately 500,000 people applying for around 40,000 places the chances of me getting in were fairly slim (1 in 12.5 to be precise if those figures are correct). And every year they haven’t let me down and have firmly stated that ‘No you will not be dragging your slightly overweight and aged body around a 26.2 mile course in the fabulous city of London’. This year however they have properly called my bluff and come up with

‘Yes you can drag that body around London even though it is eight years older than it would have been if we would have let you in the first time and, we notice, slightly heavier than previously’. I’m in. I have to run 26.2 miles on 2 October and look as if I am enjoying it at least a little bit.

I’m not going to lie, I had become quite comfortable with being a ‘lucky loser’. Another year passes and another rejection from London. I had even had a conversation with my wife, the day before I found out, saying I wouldn’t be applying again after my inevitable rejection and would do one somewhere else… Rome being the favourite, it takes place in late March each year and starts and finishes at the Coliseum. She seemed keen to attend that one funnily enough.

It should be said, and regular readers will know this already, that I do run pretty regularly and have done a few half marathons in my time but a marathon, fairly obviously, is twice that length. I know how my poor old body feels after running for 13.1 miles so God knows how it is going to be after 26.2!!!

I have a little while until I have to start training in earnest so am endeavouring to lose a bit of weight first. I am currently a day in and I feel like I may have lost at least half a stone already. It may be wishful

thinking but I’m sure I can see the beginnings of a six pack and the intense hunger I feel must have made some difference surely?

The training is quite a commitment. You might think that training for a marathon could or would be just double the training you do for a half. Apparently not. In actual fact it’s quite different and a bit more intense. If I struggle though I should be able to get some wise words of advice from my family as my dad has done it a few times as has my sister. I’d like to be able to say that I’ll be trying to break a family record but my dad has done sub 3hrs and my sister has done just over which is incredible. I, dear reader, will be happy if I can finish. Yes I just want to finish the thing - any time welcome! Instead I shall have to be content with the family record for eating cake. I’m not sure there is one to be honest but if there is I’m confident I could break it!

I will, every now and then, keep you up to date with my progress and although I am a little apprehensive I am also looking forward to it enormously and, more importantly, looking forward to a huge, record breaking, cake at the end of it.

“I know how my poor old body feels after running for 13.1 miles so God knows how it is going to be after 26.2!!!”

Phil Rockliffe